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The new Pedego Electric Bike Shop in East Setauket opened its doors this past December, peddling something we can all use a little more of nowadays: fun.
The shop, also known as Pedego Stony Brook, is owned by husband-and-wife team Martin and Trish Larsen, who are helping foster a healthier lifestyle for locals through electric bikes.
The couple works in health care, but have long envisioned opening a business together.
They ultimately zeroed in on the Pedego franchise.
“I wanted to be able to improve people’s lives in a different way,” Trish said. “It’s an opportunity to not only make a change for my family by starting my own business, but also bring something different to the area.”
The East Setauket couple says electric bikes are still a new concept, but they surged in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as people searched for new ways to enjoy the outdoors and open spaces.
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The electric bikes look like normal bikes, but have a battery pack that can take you between 15 to 60 miles on a single charge.
The bikes can go up to 20 MPH and have a pedal-assist that makes it easier to go uphill and lessen the strain of a long bike ride.
“There’s lots of people by virtue of their age, or who haven’t ridden a bike in a long time, who benefit from the electric bikes,” Trish said. “It affords them the ability to get back on a bike or take a ride with their grandchildren or get out with their wife.”
Along with selling electric bikes and accessories, Pedego Electric Bikes services bikes, and offers delivery. They also include a five-year warranty.
The shop gives customers the option of donating their old bikes they no longer use to the nonprofit organization Brookhaven Bike Co-op, which gives bikes to people who need them.
Trish says the shopping experience at Pedego Electric Bikes is very hands-on. They encourage customers to test ride the bikes in order to find the right fit for them.
The store offers private shopping appointments Monday to Wednesday and is fully open Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
“I hope we can become a mode of transportation in place of gasoline-powered vehicles,” Trish said. “There’s a lot of beautiful places to visit here on the North Shore and a lot of history in Stony Brook.”
